Promising cereals near Alnwick

Carl Tuer has had a strange start to harvest at Rock Farms, Alnwick, Northumberland, with plenty of breaks in between the combining.

“Last weekend we cut 44ha of Volume winter barley, and then we had nothing to do. Over the past two days (8/9 August) we’ve cut 44ha of Cassia, and have nothing again until the middle of next week,” he said.

“It’s very bizarre – normally we start and go right through. By 27 August I can see we’ll have cut 400 acres and then will have 2000 acres that could all do with cutting on virtually the same day.”

However, early signs were very promising, with the Volume yielding 8.6t/ha and the Cassia 9.3t/ha. “We’ve never grown either variety before, but the Cassia looked fantastic all year,” said Mr Tuer.

“I think we’re in for a very big cereal harvest up here – although I’m not going to be boasting about the oilseed rape.”

Of the 200ha of rapeseed in the ground, 120ha looked good, while the rest ranged from less good to appalling, he added.

“We did resow 53ha with spring rape, and that looks phenomenal. But spring rape is generally rubbish, so I’ll wait and see before I believe it.”

Oilseed rape harvest was still about two weeks away, with some likely to ripen before winter wheat, and the remainder later on.

“We’ve got a Claas combine that you have to change the header bar on for cutting rape, which takes about an hour and a half to do,” said Mr Tuer. “I think we’re going to be very good at it by the end of harvest.”

Although some people were drilling winter rape in the area, he planned to wait until Monday before making a start. “I think it’s plenty early enough.”

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Volume
Area: 44ha
Yield: 8.6t/ha

Variety: Cassia
Area: 44ha
Yield: 9.3t/ha